Michelle - Sorry about that! I just really liked what Maya said after - should have left that part out! Sorry

Flo - Thanks so much - it has been a rough few months so not sure what will happen for him.

Andrea - I go to WW too! I like the accountability.

Maya - I agree so much about 100% for me at least and need to deal with theissues of why I got this way and why I never want to be this way again! And I know if the past once I go off any program, it is SO hard to get back in the mindset...

Ruth - WOO HOO

Waving Hi to everyone - DD going back to school today

Check back later...

Maria, that's rotten that you were discriminated against, I empathize completely. Since the new boss is making amends I would not go after back pay. Congratulations for standing up for what is right!!

Thanks to everyone for the regularity information. I'm off to the store to get Metamucil capulets.

Andrea, you're starting a trend! I am going to weight myself on Sundays also. Sundays will be fun!!

Thanks everyone, with your support, and just knowing I'm not alone in this, I've been able to stay on plan!!

I had to do a modified plan about a month before & after my surgery last fall. I ended up with a modified MF transition plan that included dairy, fruit, & whole grains (very little of that tho').

For fruit I looked at the Atkins list of low carb fruits which are mainly berries & I chose Fage Total 2% strained Greek yogurt as my dairy because of it's great health benefits & sometimes LF cottage cheese. Both go great w/berries too. For the whole grains I chose real oatmeal or a slice of good quality multi-grain bread.

I probably would have lost faster without this "sidetrip" but I need to get better & that was my focus during that time. Still lost weight & I have to tell you, my body was oh so happy to have those additions.

You may lose a little slower during your recovery time, but can still probably lose with a little planning.

Hi all!
About the "stupid" part -- I didn't mean to offend anyone. Ms Michelle's post said
"Someone make me feel better! Tell me I'm being stupid and this weight will fall off tomorrow!"
So I said:
"You're being stupid and the weight will fall off (but not all of it tomorrow!
hahahaha!
You aren't being stupid."
I wasn't trying to be rude or offensive -- I just thought it was amusing. My bad!!!!
Love y'all!
Maya

Maya: I thought you were pretty funny and not offensive at all
... We all are internet buddies... Kind of like a Biggest Loser on the web... smile
Thank you for sharing your diet history with us... It conforts me to think that i could be where you are in a few weeks... Did you exercise at all?

I am happy with my weight loss so far: - 4.8 pounds (in 5 days)! But I am kind of wondering why i did not get the -10/-8 pounds of other people. I have been on plan 100%... Is it because i made a few recipes like the delicious biscuits, my ice cream? Or is it because i have been yo yo dieting for the last few months? Don't get me wrong, 5 pds is AMAZING!!! I was just hoping that i could have been in the Onderland at the end of the week... Could the one bar a day slow my weight loss down? Maybe i drunk a little too much Diet Coke... ANY suggestions?

Florence

Hi Ms Flo!
STOP WEIGHING YOURSELF EVERY DAY! You'll go CRAZY! When I weighed myself every day, I would OBSESS about what are normal body weight fluctuations. Some days, I'd lose NOTHING, then a huge BLOB would fall off the next day. Just stay on the plan! This isn't a race, and it WILL come off when it comes off. In the meantime, just do the plan to the letter and don't compare your loss to that of others!
Also, I personally believe that what you look like is 85%-90% as a result of diet, and 10%-15% as a result of exercise. Mathematically, if you look at it, it is HARD to burn 3500 calories strictly by exercise. And when you calorie-restrict as per a MF plan, EXCESS exercise actually results in SLOW weight loss as your body tries to protect itself from starvation.
ALL of my results are from diet. I do not regularly exercise -- and what I mean by that is that I don't go to the gym and get on the elliptical and so on for set periods of time. BUT, I HAVE increased my overall activity naturally as getting around isn't so difficult at 171lbs vs 243lbs. I golf in the summer and walk the course. My DH and I bike around alot. In the winter, I walk, I park as far from the mall door as I can, I take stairs, and so on. I may go cross-country skiing for FUN, but NOT for a fat burn.
When I drop another 15 lbs or so, I want to start running. NOT for weight loss, but for cardiovascular health.
BUT PLEASE REMEMBER that exercise is VITAL for weight MAINTENANCE. So quite often, it is good to get into the routine now.
MF recommends NO MORE than 45 minutes vigerous activity per day because anything MORE will slow your weight loss.
Bored, yet?
Bottom line: stay on the eating plan 100%, stop jumping on the scale, don't compare your weight loss rate to that of others (SO hard to do!), increase your daily activity naturally, don't worry about gym time at this point, and when you are more physically comfortable, start regularly exercising so that you can MAINTAIN your weight loss!
Love ya!
Maya

Another little from the sidelines . . . See you soon, gang . . . Keep fighting the good fight.

Day 1 is here (again) and I'm doing well. I have the day planned out and should be fine. I also have my evening planned to I'll be doing things around the house to keep my mind off how I'm feeling.

Thanks for all of the great comments and advice. I had another talk with my brother and the other female engineer this morning and we're on the right path I think. The company culture is changing and we'll have to be agents of the change. I've had to stick my neck out several times this year but at least we're able to now.

By the way, I have major scale addiction too but I'm trying to break it. I did weigh this morning to get my official (this time) starting weight but that's in until Monday - my normal weigh-in day.

Hang in there everyone.

Maria

Hard to say but I think your 1st wk loss was great. I was pushing 300#s when I started & dropped a little over 15#s my first week & 35#s my first month. Those high initial losses seem to be more common the heavier you are. Another factor that plays into the big beginning losses is how much crap you ate before you started. My former diet was mega high in carbs so I think for me it was a huge carb purge.

Flo - I think you are doing great!!! Plus you have 2 more days for your first week I agree with Maya - try to weigh once a week and if you need some reinforcement, you could try on a smaller pair of jeans or pants!!!

Hi, Everyone! Great work!
Even though it is challenging, we are all giving ourselves a wonderful gift.

This morning I weighed-in for the completion of my 8th MF-ing Week. Eight weeks ago I weighed 189.
Today: 162.

I've been doing a little shopping, too, Maya. Some size 10s some 12s, but all in the misses department. I am enjoying the mirrors.

When I went to in-service at school on Monday, everyone (really) commented that I looked great. That felt amazing.

I have received my Walden Farms products from Netrition, but have yet to try anything. Since I got back home late Sunday night, I haven't even taken time to go to the store--so I have been lean and greening with frozen stuff. I'm thinking tonight would be a great night to go out to a hip place and order a gorgeous salad and add my own dressing. Mmmm...dining out.
I haven't in a long time.

This works and it is really, really worth the effort. We can all make it happen!

Later,
Carol

I am so happy with Ruthxxx for giving us a weekly thread. And a forum. What a huge difference this makes in terms of support.

Look at this amazing progress! I am so proud of all of us.

Well, I made it 15 days OP without slipping up. But today, I went to the gym at lunch, did my 30 min on the elliptical - and when I walked out to the parking lot I felt as if my legs were going to buckle on me. My energy levels have completely bottomed out and I feel as if I'm literally starving my muscle tissue on MF.
I was driving back to work and saw a brightly colored drive thru sign I normally ignore. I don't even l-i-k-e this place. But like a sci-fi tractor beam it pulled me in. I ate like a wild dingo. I'll keep the pornographic elements of my feast to myself.
Sigh. I feel sick already.
I was also very discouraged today because the scale hasn't moved in days, and neither have I if ya know what I mean. I read all the previous advice on fiber tablets. I have been doing sugar free metamucil to no avail. I added glucomannan. Doubled my water and still nothing. Drank that evil senna tea and nothing.
I think I'm gonna go have my highlights touched up. Maybe that'll cheer me up.

Its absolutely OK. Just get back on the MFing wagon, that's all. As for "movement", SERIOUSLY, buy some psyllium husk fiber. Dose yourself in the am, lunch and before bed for 3 days. Trust me, you'll start moving.
The other weird thing I found is that when I was OFF PLAN at Christmas, for the first few days, BOY did things move along. Maybe your Fast Food adventure will get things moving along!
Chin up!
Maya

Y'all, I have to say...I take the Pearls. I can't remember who I told about them, but I use acidophilus Pearls. It is the only thing that has kept me regular - MF or no MF. It's carb free and about the size of an English pea. I find them at WalMart here, but you can find them online if your WalMart doesn't have them. They really do work for irregularity, imho.